JP2008071083A - Workflow management system, workflow management method, and workflow management program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a workflow management system, a workflow management method and a workflow management program for timely treating information stored on a paper medium as task related information in a constructive workflow. <P>SOLUTION: In a workflow management system 100, a management server SV with databases 113-119 manages constructive workflow and comprises a reading means for reading information 31 on the paper medium to generate read image data; a task setting means for setting a task to be associated with the information 31 on the paper medium read by the reading means; an attached document creation means for creating an attached document 32 to be attached to the task set by the setting means on the basis of the read image data; and an attached document storage means for storing the attached document 32 in the databases 113, 114 by associating the document 32 with the task set by the setting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a workflow management system that manages a constructive workflow.

  A conventional workflow management system has to determine a workflow model when executing a workflow. However, it is difficult to formulate a prior workflow model in fields where prior information is not completely complete, such as research and development and some services. In view of this, a method called a constructive workflow has been developed that can dynamically construct a model (that can be dynamically changed) during workflow execution.

  Furthermore, with the aim of improving workability at the time of task execution in a constructive workflow, a workflow management system that can search and provide various information (related information) necessary for workflow execution at the time of task execution. Has been proposed (for example, see Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-003499).

  Such a workflow management system has been introduced as a solution for solving office work in various fields. Along with this, the input / output function (scanner and printer function) of the MFP (multi-function printer) that handles all information in the office environment such as electronic data and paper is important for the introduced workflow management system. It will be positioned. For example, by reading and digitizing paper manuscripts with the scanner function provided by the MFP, information on paper media, including conference materials and memos, can be stored in a timely manner as related information in the workflow. It will be an important role.

  The applicant has not been able to find published prior art documents related to the present invention by the time of filing. Therefore, information on prior art documents is not disclosed.

  However, in the conventional constructive workflow, it is difficult to foresee at which step scanning (paper document reading) occurs (information input from paper medium). There is a problem that it is impossible to prepare a workflow definition that prescribes, and information on paper media cannot be handled as related information in a timely manner.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a workflow management system, a workflow management method, and a workflow management program that can handle information on paper media as related information in a constructive workflow in a timely manner.

  In order to achieve the above object, a workflow management system according to the present invention is a workflow management system that manages a constructive workflow by a management server having a database, and reads reading information from a paper medium to generate read image data. And a task setting means for setting a task to be associated with the paper medium information read by the reading means; and an attached document for creating an attached document to be attached to the task set by the task setting means based on the read image data And an attached document storage unit that stores the attached document in the database in association with the task set by the task setting unit.

  Thus, the workflow management system of the present invention can handle information on paper media as related information in a timely manner.

  In order to achieve the above object, a workflow management system according to the present invention includes task search means for searching for task information related to a user from the database, and task search result acquisition means for acquiring a search result by the task search means. When the existing task registered in the database is associated with the paper medium information, the task setting unit reads the task selected based on the search result acquired by the task search result acquisition unit by the reading unit. It is set as a task associated with information on paper media.

  Thus, the workflow management system of the present invention can appropriately associate the paper medium information with the existing task registered in the database.

  In order to achieve the above object, the workflow management system of the present invention has a task creation means for creating a new task, and associates a new task not registered in the database with information on a paper medium. Thus, the task created by the task creating means is set as a task associated with the information of the paper medium read by the reading means.

  Thus, the workflow management system of the present invention can appropriately associate the paper medium information with a new task not registered in the database.

  In order to achieve the above object, the workflow management system of the present invention includes a text extraction unit that performs OCR processing on the read image data read from the reading unit, and extracts text from the read image data. When text is extracted by the extracting means, the attached document creating means creates a document title of the attached document based on a part or all of the text extracted by the text extracting means.

  Thus, the workflow management system of the present invention can efficiently create the document title of the attached document.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the workflow management system of the present invention, when text is extracted by the text extraction unit, the task creation unit selects a task name candidate of the task created by the task creation unit, as described above. The determination is based on a part or all of the text extracted by the text extraction means.

  Thus, the workflow management system of the present invention can present an appropriate candidate when setting the task name of a new task.

  To achieve the above object, the workflow management system of the present invention is characterized in that the task search means searches the database using a part or all of the text extracted by the text extraction means as a search condition. .

  As a result, the workflow management system of the present invention can obtain, as a search result, a task highly relevant to the information on the paper medium at the time of task search.

  In order to achieve the above object, the workflow management system of the present invention is characterized by comprising authentication means for performing user use authorization authentication.

  Thus, the workflow management system of the present invention can prevent unauthorized use by users who are not permitted to use.

  In order to achieve the above object, the workflow management system of the present invention is characterized in that the management server is an image forming apparatus provided with a storage device.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus in a workflow management system of the present invention is an image forming apparatus connected to a workflow management system for managing a constructive workflow, and reads information on a paper medium and reads read image data. A reading unit for generating; a task setting unit for setting a task associated with the information on the paper medium read by the reading unit based on a search result of task information related to the user searched by the management server; and the read image And an attached document creating means for creating an attached document to be attached to the task set by the task setting means based on the data.

  In order to achieve the above object, the management server in the workflow management system of the present invention is a management server connected to a workflow management system for managing a constructive workflow, comprising a database, task creation means for creating a new task, , Task search means for searching for task information related to the user from the database, task search result providing means for providing a search result by the search means, and read image data obtained by reading and generating information on a paper medium by the image forming apparatus An attached document created on the basis of the task information provided by the task search result providing unit in the image forming apparatus in association with the task set based on the task information provided in the database. It is characterized by.

  As a result, the image processing apparatus and the management server in the workflow management system of the present invention can handle paper medium information as related information in a timely manner.

  To achieve the above object, the management server in the workflow management system of the present invention searches the database by the task search means using a part or all of the text extracted by the text extraction means as a search condition. Features.

  As a result, the management server in the workflow management system of the present invention can obtain, as a search result, a task highly relevant to the information on the paper medium at the time of task search.

  In order to achieve the above object, the management server in the workflow management system of the present invention is characterized by having an authentication means for performing user permission authentication.

  Thus, the management server in the workflow management system of the present invention can prevent unauthorized use by users who are not permitted to use.

  In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus in the workflow management system of the present invention, when the task setting means associates an existing task registered in the database of the management server with information on a paper medium, the management server The task selected based on the search result of the task information related to the user acquired from the above is set as a task associated with the information on the paper medium read by the reading means.

  Thus, the image forming apparatus in the workflow management system of the present invention can appropriately associate the paper medium information with the existing task registered in the database.

  In order to achieve the above object, the workflow management method of the present invention is created by the management server when the task setting means associates a new task that is not registered in the database of the management server with paper medium information. The new task is set as a task associated with the paper medium information read by the reading means.

  Thus, the image forming apparatus in the workflow management system of the present invention can appropriately associate the paper medium information with a new task that is not registered in the database.

  In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus in the workflow management system of the present invention has text extraction means for performing OCR processing on the read image data read from the reading means and extracting text from the read image data. When the text is extracted by the text extracting unit by the attached document generating unit, the document title of the attached document is generated based on a part or all of the text extracted by the text extracting unit. Features.

  Thus, the image forming apparatus in the workflow management system of the present invention can efficiently create the document title of the attached document.

  In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus in the workflow management system of the present invention, when the text is extracted by the text extraction means by the task creation means, the task name of the task created by the task creation means Candidates are determined based on a part or all of the text extracted by the text extraction means.

  Accordingly, the image forming apparatus in the workflow management system of the present invention can present an appropriate candidate when setting the task name of a new task.

  In order to achieve the above object, a workflow management method for an image forming apparatus in a workflow management system according to the present invention is a workflow management method for an image forming apparatus connected to a workflow management system for managing a constructive workflow. A reading procedure for reading information and generating read image data, and a task associated with the paper medium information read in the reading procedure are set based on a search result of task information related to the user searched by the management server. A task setting procedure; and an attached document creation procedure for creating an attached document to be attached to the task set by the task setting procedure based on the read image data.

  In order to achieve the above object, a workflow management method of a management server in a workflow management system of the present invention is a workflow management method in a management server connected to a workflow management system that manages a constructive workflow, and includes a database, a new A task creation procedure for creating a task; a task search procedure for retrieving task information related to a user from the database; a task search result providing procedure for providing a search result according to the task search procedure; and the image forming apparatus is a paper medium The attached document created based on the read image data obtained by reading and generating the information is stored in the database in the image forming apparatus in association with the task set based on the task information provided by the task search result providing procedure. Attached document storage And having a forward.

  Accordingly, the workflow management method of the image processing apparatus and the management server in the workflow management system of the present invention can handle information on paper media as related information in a timely manner.

To achieve the above object, a workflow management program for an image forming apparatus in a workflow management system of the present invention is a workflow management program for an image forming apparatus connected to a workflow management system for managing a constructive workflow,
Retrieval of task information related to a user retrieved by the management server for reading means that reads information on a paper medium into a computer and generates a read image data and a task associated with the information of the paper medium read by the reading means Task setting means for setting based on the result and attached document creating means for creating an attached document to be attached to the task set by the task setting means based on the read image data are caused to function.

  In order to achieve the above object, a workflow management program of a management server in a workflow management system of the present invention is a workflow management program in a management server connected to a workflow management system that manages a constructive workflow, and a database is stored in a computer. A task creation means for creating a new task, a task search means for searching for task information related to a user from the database, a task search result providing means for providing a search result by the task search means, and the image forming apparatus In the image forming apparatus, the attached document created based on the read image data obtained by reading the information on the paper medium is associated with the task set based on the task information provided by the task search result providing unit, and data To function and accompanying document storage means for storing the over scan.

  Thus, the workflow management program of the image processing apparatus and the management server in the workflow management system of the present invention can cause the computer to function so that information on paper media can be handled as related information in a timely manner.

  According to the present invention, since the information on the paper medium and the task can be appropriately associated and registered in the workflow, the workflow management system, the workflow management method, and the workflow management program capable of handling the information on the paper medium as task related information in a timely manner. Can be provided.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
<About system configuration>
First, the configuration of the workflow management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a workflow management system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a workflow management server (information processing apparatus) SV that manages various types of information and controls functions of the system, and a user terminal (information processing apparatus) that is used as a terminal when a user uses the system A PC (PC _{1 to} PC _n ) and a multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus) MFP (MFP _{1 to} MFP _n ) equipped with a copy / fax / printer / scanner function and compatible with the network are constructed by wired and / or wireless lines The workflow management system 100 is constructed by connecting to a network (data communication network) 40 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network).

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a workflow management server SV (hereinafter referred to as “management server SV”), a user terminal PC, and a multifunction peripheral MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A shows an example of the hardware configuration of the management server SV and the user terminal PC, and FIG. 2B shows the hardware configuration of the MFP MFP.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the management server SV and the user terminal PC include a control unit 11, a control unit 12, an auxiliary storage unit 13, a network I / F 14, an external storage device I / F 15, an external device I / F 16, It comprises an output device I / F 17 and an input device I / F 18.

  A control unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit) 11 is a device that executes a program stored in the main storage unit 12, performs arithmetic processing on data received from an input or storage device, and outputs the data to an output device or storage device.

  A main storage unit (ROM: Read Only Memory, RAM: Random Access Memory) 12 is a device that stores programs and data executed by the control unit 11.

  The auxiliary storage unit (HD: Hard Disk) 13 is a device that stores basic software such as an OS (Operating System) and application software together with related data.

  The network I / F 14 is an interface for exchanging information (data) with peripheral devices connected via the network 40.

  The external storage device I / F 15 is an interface for exchanging data with an external storage device (for example, a storage media drive) connected via a data transmission path such as USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  The external device I / F 16 is an interface for exchanging data with an external input device (for example, a digital camera or a scanner) connected via a data transmission path.

  The output device I / F 17 is an interface that receives data from an output device (for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or a liquid crystal display) connected via a data transmission path.

  The input device I / F 18 is an interface that receives data from an input device (for example, a keyboard or a mouse) connected via a data transmission path.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, the MFP MFP includes a control unit 11, a control unit 12, an auxiliary storage unit 13, a network I / F 14, an external storage device I / F 15, an external device I / F 16, and a display. A section (panel display) 19, an input section (operation section) 20, a printing section (plotter section) 21, and a scanner section (original reading section) 22 are configured. Among the components, the same components as those shown in the information processing devices 100 and 200 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

  A display unit (panel display) 19 and an input unit (operation unit) 20 are each provided with a key switch (including hard keys and GUI (Graphical User Interface) software keys) and a touch panel function LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). Device that functions as a UI (User Interface) when using the functions of the image forming apparatus MFP.

  Upon receiving image data composed of CMYK, the printing unit (plotter unit) 21 receives it on a transfer paper (printing paper) using an electrophotographic process (exposure, latent image, development and transfer process) using a laser beam. This device outputs (prints) the image data.

  The scanner unit (document reading unit) 22 includes a line sensor composed of a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) photoelectric conversion element, an A / D converter, and a drive circuit for driving them, and is set on the document reading surface (on the contact glass). This is a device that generates RGB 8-bit digital image data (reads information from a paper medium and digitizes it) by scanning a document.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main functional configuration of the workflow management system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As described with reference to FIG. 1, the workflow management system 100 includes a workflow management server SV, a user terminal PC, and a multifunction peripheral MFP. The main functional configuration of these apparatuses will be described in the order of the management server SV, the user terminal PC, and the MFP MFP.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the management server SV dynamically uses a GUI providing unit 101 that provides a GUI to a user U who uses the system, and a workflow model dynamically by reusing an existing task model and / or task instance. Are generated and executed, and various DBs (Data Base) 113 to 119 are provided.

  The DB includes a related information DB 113 that stores related information that is referred to when executing the workflow, a document DB 114 that stores a document body, a task model DB 115 that stores a task model abstracted in advance by an administrator, etc. A task instance DB 116 that stores past task instances, a domain concept DB 117 that stores matching instances in which related task instances and related information are grouped in advance by an administrator, etc., and a work record DB 118 that stores workflow work records And a user DB 119 for storing user information such as login information (authentication information).

  The GUI providing unit 101 includes a rendering engine 102 for drawing a display screen of the user terminal PC (screen displayed on a CRT or a liquid crystal display), and an input / output control unit 103 for exchanging information with the user U. I have.

  The workflow engine 104 refers to the search engine 105 that executes various searches on the DBs 113 to 119, the task control unit 106 that controls the tasks that constitute the workflow, and the DBs 113 to 119, and the user U and the workflow management system 100. The workflow recording unit 112 that monitors the operation of the workflow and records the work in the work record DB 118, the document data registered in the document DB 114 is associated with the task, the information is registered in the related information DB 113, the task and the document And a related information management unit 120 for managing related information.

  The task control unit 106 estimates the current task of the user U based on the information in the task creation unit 107 that creates a task, the task execution unit 108 that executes the created task, and the work record DB 118, and related information A search engine 109 that searches the DBs 113 to 116, a task model creation unit 110 that creates a task model from past processes (workflows, tasks), and a task tree (hierarchical structure) on which the user is working when creating the task model And a task tree holding unit 111 for holding the above information.

  As an operation overview, the user U operates the workflow engine 104 through the input / output control unit 103 of the GUI providing unit 101 to create and execute a workflow, create a workflow model, related information, register a document, and the workflow instance, Perform work such as linking with the workflow model.

  When creating a workflow, the search engine 105 of the workflow engine 104 performs various searches on the DBs 113 to 119.

  The task control unit 106 of the workflow engine 104 uses the task model DB 115 and the task instance DB 116 to control a task based on an instruction from the user U and the like. The task creation unit 107 of the task control unit 106 performs tasks such as task creation and information linking based on information in the DBs 113 to 116 in accordance with an instruction from the user U. The task execution unit 108 uses the information in the task instance DB 116 in accordance with an instruction from the user U, and updates actual task information (task execution is update of task information as seen from the system side). The estimation engine 109 estimates the current task of the user U based on the information in the work record DB 118 and searches the DBs 113 to 116 for related information. The task model creation unit 110 creates and manages a task model using information in the task model DB 115, the task instance DB 116, the document DB 114, and the related information DB 113. The task tree holding unit 111 holds information on a task tree that the user U is currently working on.

  Next, the user terminal PC displays a browser 201 that displays a display screen for exchanging various information related to tasks drawn by the rendering engine 102 of the GUI providing unit 101 provided in the management server SV with the management server SV. I have.

  Next, the MFP MFP includes a related information input control unit 301 that controls a related information input function that is input to handle paper medium information (hereinafter referred to as “paper document content”) as related information. The input unit 20 and the display unit 19 shown in FIG. 2 (b) display an operation state, job information, and the like, and a panel display unit 302 that accepts an operation instruction of the user U from the touch panel function, and extracts text from the scanned image. (Reading) OCR (Optical Character Reader) engine 303, scanner control unit 304 for controlling the reading operation of the scanner 305 according to the reading mode (for example, image quality mode) setting, and scanner unit 22, which is a scanner for reading an original 305 and a printing unit 21 shown in FIG. 2B, which converts input RGB data into CMYK data and prints it. 6 is provided.

<System operation example>
Next, an operation example of the workflow management system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation example in which a paper document is registered and referred to as task related information in the workflow management system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, operations until registering and referencing a paper document as related information (handled as related information) are mainly performed by the following six procedures.
(1) Relevant information input function execution instruction reception (2) User authentication request (3) Task list provision (4) Task selection / document reading (5) Attached document transmission / corresponding task attachment (6) Task access When it is desired to register the paper document 31 as the task related information in the workflow, the MFP MFP receives an instruction to execute the related information input function from the user U via the panel display unit 302 (procedure (1)).

  Next, the MFP MFP that has received the instruction displays a panel display as shown by a broken line in FIG. 5 in order to determine whether the instructed user U is the workflow management system 100 or a user who can use the MFP MFP. Using the software keyboard of the unit 302, the user U is requested to input a login password, and user authentication is requested by transmitting the user ID and the input password to the management server SV (procedure (2)). At this time, the user ID is input by using a software keyboard displayed on the panel display unit 302 like a login password, or by reading from an IC card in which identification information for identifying a user carried by the user U is stored. MFP MFP can be acquired.

  The MFP MFP receives the authentication result of the user U from the management server SV, and requests the management server SV for information on the task registered in the workflow related to the user U when the user is an authenticated user. As a result, the management server SV provides the user U's task list (task search result) to the MFP MFP (procedure (3)).

  The MFP MFP displays the acquired task list on the panel display unit 302 as shown in FIG. The user U can select a task associated with the paper document 31 to be scanned (hereinafter referred to as “attach”) from the task information (displayed task information) shown in the broken line on the left in FIG. it can. Further, the user U can register a new task in the workflow by touching the software key (new task creation key) shown in the broken line on the right side of FIG. Can be selected as an associated task. Although FIG. 6 shows an example in which the task list information is displayed in a flat list, it may be displayed in a hierarchical list format indicating the hierarchical structure of tasks. Returning to FIG. 4, after selecting a task attached by the user U, the MFP MFP displays a setting screen for the reading mode (hereinafter referred to as “scan parameter”) of the scanner 305 as shown in the broken line in FIG. 302 is displayed. Thereafter, the paper document 31 set by the scanner 305 is scanned according to the scan parameter setting of the user U. (Procedure (4)). At this time, text (character data) is extracted using the OCR engine 303 based on the scanned image data.

  After completing the scan, the MFP MFP displays a display screen for instructing the user U to perform the next procedure as shown in FIG. Here, the procedure that can be instructed by the user U is (5-1) a task attachment (association) request for the attached document 32 created based on the scanned image data, (5-2) the next paper document 31 is scanned, (5 -3) Scanned image data deletion. Returning to FIG. 4, when the user U touches the software key shown in the broken line in FIG. 8, assuming that the procedure of (5-1) is instructed, part or all extracted by the OCR process The attached document 32 is created based on the scanned image data, and the attached document 32 is transmitted to the management server SV. As a result, the management server SV attaches (associates) the received attached document 32 to the corresponding task (procedure (5)).

  As a result, the user U can browse the created attached document 32 by the task related information display function as shown in FIG. 9 using the browser 201 provided in the user terminal PC (procedure (6)). FIG. 9 shows an example in which an attached document 32 in which the text “Technology Survey” extracted by the OCR process is the document title is displayed. FIG. 10 shows an example in which the related document search function of the workflow management system is found from the document DB 114 as a document related to another task based on the document title of the attached document 32 and the search result is displayed. It is shown. When the attached document 32 in the broken line in FIG. 10 is clicked, a browsable application (in the case of PDF format, Acrobat Reader (registered trademark)) determined from the data format (for example, “PDF: Portable Document Format”). It is also shown that the contents of the attached document 32 can be easily browsed.

  As described above, in the present invention, the paper document 31 can be handled in association with the task (designated task) intended by the user U in the workflow.

<Regarding Main Function Unit of Related Information Input Control Unit 301>
Next, with reference to FIG. 11, what functional unit realizes the operation of registering a paper document as task-related information described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main functional configuration of the workflow management system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The operation (six procedures) for registering a paper document as task related information is controlled by the related information input control unit 301 of the MFP MFP, which is a component of the workflow management system 100, as described with reference to FIG.

  The related information input control unit 301 includes a login function unit 51, a task list acquisition function unit 52, a task creation function unit 53, and an attached document creation function unit 53.

  The login function unit 51 is a function that requests the management server for user authentication shown in the procedure (2) of FIG. The login function unit 51 transmits the user U's user ID and login password to the management server SV, and whether the user U instructed to execute the related information input function is a user who can use the workflow management system 100 or the MFP MFP. Request user authentication to determine whether or not. The management server SV accesses the user DB 119 by the search engine 105 included in the workflow engine 104, refers to the authentication information of the user U using the user ID as a reference key, performs authentication, and returns an authentication result to the MFP MFP (authentication unit). ). Therefore, the login function unit 51 can acquire the authentication result from the management server SV.

  The task list acquisition function unit 52 is a function for acquiring the task list shown in the procedure (3) of FIG. 4 from the management server SV. The task list acquisition function unit 52 requests the management server SV for information on tasks registered in the workflow related to the user U when the user U is an authorized user according to the authentication result from the management server SV. (Task search result acquisition means). The management server SV accesses the task instance DB 116 by the search engine 105 of the workflow engine 104, searches for task information related to the user U (task search means), and converts the result into data in a list format so that the MFP MFP (Task search result providing means). Therefore, the task list acquisition function unit 52 can acquire task information related to the user U and display the task information on the panel display unit 302. The task list acquisition function unit 52 can store the existing tasks registered in the DB with the paper medium information (the paper manuscript 31). Content) can be selected as a task to be associated.

  The task creation function unit 53 is a function for creating a new task when selecting the associated task shown in step (4) of FIG. The task creation function unit 53 requests the management server SV to create a new task desired by the user U (task creation means). The management server SV uses the task control unit 106 of the workflow engine 104 to access the task instance DB 116, generates a new task instance, and responds to the MFP with a task ID issued along with the new creation. Therefore, the task creation function unit 53 can select a new task that is not registered in the DB as a task to be associated with the paper medium information (the contents of the paper document 31).

  As described above, the workflow management system 100 uses the task list acquisition function unit 52 and the task creation function unit 53 to convert the existing task registered in the DB and the new task not registered in the DB into paper medium information (paper document 31). (Task setting means).

  The attached document creation function unit 54 is a function for creating the attached document 32 based on the scanned image data shown in the procedure (5) of FIG. The attached document creation function unit 54 obtains scanned image data obtained by scanning the paper original 31 according to the scan parameter setting from the scanner control unit 304 (reading unit), and uses the OCR engine 303 (text extracting unit) from the scanned image data. An attached document 32 is created using the extracted part or all of the text as a document title, and the created attached document 32 is transmitted to the management server SV, whereby the attached document 32 is attached (registered in association) to the corresponding task. Request (attached document creation means). At this time, the attached document creation function unit 54 transmits a part or all of the text extracted by the OCR process to the management server SV together with the attached document 32 as a document search keyword. The management server SV uses the task control unit 106 of the workflow engine 104 to access the document DB 114 and registers (stores) the received attached document 32 (attached document storage unit). Further, when registering the attached document 32, the management server SV uses the related information management unit 120 included in the workflow engine 104 to generate information that associates the attached document 32 with the task of the attachment destination, and the generated information is related information. Register (store) in the DB 113. Therefore, the attached document creation function unit 54 creates the attached document 32 based on the scanned image data obtained by scanning the paper document 31, and registers the created attached document 32 in association with the task (each of the document DB 114 and the related information DB 113). Stored in the DB).

  Up to this point, each of the above-described functional units of the MFP MFP has been described. However, the operation of the management server SV is realized by using the functions of the workflow engine 106 already operating on the system. .

<About processing of related information input control unit 301>
Next, specific processing of the main function described with reference to FIG. 11 will be described with reference to flowcharts of FIGS. 12 and 13 and sequence diagrams of FIGS.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the related information input control unit 301 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The related information input control unit 301 performs login processing by the login function unit 51 (S101), and performs task list acquisition processing by the task list acquisition function unit 52 (S102).

  Next, the acquired task information is displayed on the panel display unit 302, and waits until a task (either a new task or an existing task) for associating an attached document is selected (S103). If YES, the display unit 302 is requested to display the scan parameter setting screen of the scanner and waits until the scan parameter is set (S104). When the scan parameter is set (when S104 is YES), the scanner control unit 304 is requested to scan the paper document 31 according to the set scan parameter (S105), and the scan is completed (scanned image data is acquired). (S106). When scanning is completed (YES in S106), the OCR engine 303 is requested to perform OCR processing on the scanned image data (S108).

  Next, it is determined whether or not a new task is selected in the task selection performed in S103 (S109). If a new task is selected (S109 is YES), the OCR processing requested in S108 is performed. The extracted text is used as a candidate value for the new task name, and the panel display unit 302 is requested to display a new task name setting screen (S110), and the process waits until the task name is determined (S111). When the task name of the new task is determined (S111 is YES), a new task creation process is performed by the task creation function unit 53 (S112). In the new task creation determination process performed in S109, if a new task is not selected (S109 is NO), the processes in S110 to S112 are not performed.

  Finally, the attached document creation function unit 54 creates the attached document 32 (S113). The process ends.

  FIG. 13A is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of the login function unit 51 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The login function unit 51 transmits the acquired user ID and login password to the management server SV, and requests an authentication process for determining whether the user U is a usable user (S201). It waits until the authentication result to be returned is acquired (S202).

  Next, according to the authentication result acquired from the management server SV, only when the authentication result is unavailable (when S203 is YES), a screen display notifying the user U that the authentication result is unavailable is displayed on the panel. Request to unit 302.

  FIG. 13B is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of the task list acquisition function unit 52 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The task list acquisition function unit 52 requests the management server SV to provide task information related to the user U (S301), and waits until task information provided from the management server SV is acquired (S302). The panel display unit 302 is requested to display the task information acquired from the management server SV as a task list (S303).

  FIG. 13C is a flowchart showing a processing example of the task creation function unit 53 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The task creation function unit 53 sends the task name of the acquired new task to the management server SV, requests creation of a new task (S401), and sets a task ID that is identification information of the new task created from the management server SV. Wait until acquisition (S402).

  FIG. 13D is a flowchart showing a processing example of the attached document creation function unit 54 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The attached document creation function unit 54 determines whether or not text can be extracted from the scanned image data by OCR processing (S501). If the text can be extracted (S501 is YES), the extracted text is used as the document title. The attached document 32 is created based on the scanned image data (S502), the extracted text and the created attached document 32 are transmitted to the management server SV, and the registration of the attached document 32 and the association with the corresponding task are requested ( S502). If the text cannot be extracted (NO in S501), the attached document 32 is created based on the scanned image data (S504), and the created attached document 32 is transmitted to the management server SV. A request for registration and association with the corresponding task is made (S505).

  FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing a processing example of the workflow management system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention (when an attached document is registered in association with an existing task and the attached document after registration is referred to). .

  The MFP MFP of the workflow management system 100 uses the login function unit 51 included in the related information input control unit 301 based on the login information (user ID and login password) of the user U input from the panel display unit 302. Are sent to the management server SV to request user authentication (1-1 to 1-2).

  The management server SV accesses the user DB 119 by the search engine 105 included in the workflow engine unit 104, performs user authentication, and returns an authentication result to the MFP FP (1-3 to 1-5).

  The MFP MFP requests the management server SV to provide task information related to the user U by the task list acquisition function unit 52 of the related information input control unit 301 (1-6).

  The management server SV uses the search engine 105 of the workflow engine 104 to access the task instance DB 116, searches for task information of the user U, and provides the search result to the MFP MFP (1-7 to 1-9).

  The multifunction peripheral MFP displays a list of the acquired task information on the panel display unit 302 by the related information input control unit 301 and waits for selection of a task associated with the paper document 31 (1-10 to 1-11). After an existing task is selected from the displayed task list, the related information input control unit 301 displays a scan parameter setting screen on the panel display unit 302. After the parameters are set, the related information input control unit 301 follows the set parameters. The scanner controller 304 is requested to execute scanning (1-12 to 1-13).

  The MFP MFP scans the paper document 31 with the scanner 305, and the related information input control unit 301 acquires scanned image data (1-15-1-16).

  The MFP MFP performs OCR processing on the acquired scanned image data using the OCR engine 303, and the related information input control unit 301 acquires the extracted text (1-17 to 1-18).

  When the attached document creation function unit 54 of the related information input control unit 301 can extract text from the scanned image data by the OCR process, the MFP MFP creates the attached document 32 using the extracted text as the document title. The attached document 32 is transmitted to the management server SV to request registration of the attached document 32 and association with the corresponding task (1-19).

  The management server SV accesses the document DB by the task control unit 106 of the workflow engine 104, registers the acquired attached document 32, and based on the document ID that is identification information of the registered document issued at the time of registration. The related information management unit 120 associates the registered attached document 32 with the selected task, and registers the information in the related information DB 113 (1-20 to 1-22).

  Next, a processing procedure for referring to the attached document 32 registered by the user U by the related information display function will be described.

  The user terminal PC requests the management server SV to provide task information of the user U through the browser 201 (U-1).

  The management server SV receives a task information request from the user terminal PC via the input / output control unit 103 included in the GUI providing unit 101. Thereafter, the search engine 105 included in the workflow engine 104 accesses the task instance DB 116 to search for task information of the user U (U-2 to U-3).

  Based on the search result (task information), the management server SV generates data that can be displayed by the browser provided in the user terminal PC by the rendering engine 102 of the GUI providing unit 101, and the user terminal via the input / output control unit 103 Provide to PC (U-4).

  Also, the user terminal PC requests the registered attached document 32 from the management server SV through the browser 201 (U-5).

  The management server SV receives an attached document request from the user terminal PC via the input / output control unit 103 included in the GUI providing unit 101. Thereafter, the search engine 105 of the workflow engine 104 accesses the related information DB 113 to search for information that associates the task generated at the time of registration with the attached document 32 (U-6 to U-7).

  The management server SV uses the search engine 105 to access the document DB 114 and searches for the attached document 32 desired by the user U based on the previous search result (document ID) (U-8 to U-9).

  Finally, based on the search result (attached document 32), the management server SV generates data that can be displayed by the browser provided in the user terminal PC by the rendering engine 102 of the GUI providing unit 101, and the input / output control unit 103 To the user terminal PC (U-10).

  FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram showing a processing example (when an attached document is registered in association with a new task) of the workflow management system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The MFP MFP of the workflow management system 100 uses the login function unit 51 included in the related information input control unit 301 based on the login information (user ID and login password) of the user U input from the panel display unit 302. Is sent to the management server SV to request user authentication (2-1 to 2-2).

  The management server SV accesses the user DB 119 by the search engine 105 included in the workflow engine unit 104, performs user authentication, and returns an authentication result to the MFP FP (2-3 to 2-5).

  The MFP MFP requests the management server SV to provide task information related to the user U by the task list acquisition function unit 52 included in the related information input control unit 301 (2-6).

  The management server SV uses the search engine 105 of the workflow engine 104 to access the task instance DB 116, searches for task information of the user U, and provides the search result to the MFP MFP (2-7 to 2-9).

  The MFP MFP displays a list of the acquired task information on the panel display unit 302 by the related information input control unit 301 and waits for selection of a task to be associated with the paper document 31 (2-10 to 2-11). After a new task is selected from the displayed task list, the related information input control unit 301 displays a scan parameter setting screen on the panel display unit 302. After the parameters are set, the related information input control unit 301 follows the set parameters. The scanner controller 304 is requested to execute scanning (2-12 to 2-13).

  The MFP MFP scans the paper document 31 with the scanner 305, and the related information input control unit 301 acquires scanned image data (2-15 to 2-16).

  The MFP MFP performs OCR processing on the acquired scanned image data using the OCR engine 303, and the related information input control unit 301 acquires the extracted text (2-17 to 2-18).

  As shown in the broken line in FIG. 16, the MFP MFP displays the task name setting screen on the panel display unit 302 using the text extracted by the OCR process as a candidate value for the new task name, and the task name is set. Thereafter, the task creation function unit 53 of the related information input control unit 301 requests the management server SV to create a new task (2-19 to 2-21).

  The management server SV uses the task generation unit 107 of the task control unit 106 of the workflow engine 104 to access the task instance DB 116 to create a task instance of a new task, issue a task ID that is task identification information, and The task ID issued to the machine MFP is returned (2-22 to 2-24).

  When the attached document creation function unit 54 of the related information input control unit 301 can extract text from the scanned image data by the OCR process, the MFP MFP creates the attached document 32 using the extracted text as the document title. The attached document 32 is transmitted to the management server SV to request registration of the attached document 32 and association with the corresponding task (2-25).

  The management server SV accesses the document DB by the task control unit 106 of the workflow engine 104, registers the acquired attached document 32, and based on the document ID that is identification information of the registered document issued at the time of registration. The related information management unit 120 associates the registered attached document 32 with the selected task, and registers the information in the related information DB 113 (2-26 to 2-28).

<Summary>
As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the workflow management system 100 first confirms the use permission of the user U by the login function unit 51 of the related information input control unit 301 included in the MFP. If the user U is permitted to use, the task list acquisition function unit 52 acquires task information related to the user U from the management server SV, and associates it with the scanned paper document 31 based on the acquired task information. The task to be set is set (task setting means). At this time, a task to be associated can be newly created by the task creation function unit 53.

  Next, the MFP MFP scans the paper document 31 set by the user U by the scanner 305, and inputs the scanned image data to the workflow management system 100 by the scanner control unit 304 (reading unit).

  Finally, a part or all of the text extracted by the OCR engine 303 included in the MFP MFP is documented by the attached document creation function unit 54 based on the scanned image data by the related information input control unit 301 included in the MFP MFP. The attached document 32 is created as a title, and registration (storage) of the attached document is requested to the management server SV (attached document creating means).

  As a result, in the workflow management system 100, the related information management unit 120 included in the workflow engine 104 of the management server SV registers (stores) the attached document 32 and information regarding the association between the attached document 32 and the designated task in each DB. (Attached document storage means).

  Therefore, since the information on the paper medium (contents of the paper original 31) and the task are appropriately associated and can be registered in the workflow, the information on the paper medium (contents of the paper original 31) can be handled as task related information in a timely manner. .

  Further, in the MFP MFP which is a component of the workflow management system 100, a workflow procedure (task) is specified, and paper medium information (contents of the paper document 31) is associated and registered, or a new workflow procedure (task). And information related to the paper medium (the contents of the paper document 31) can be registered in association with each other.

[Second Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, a function of searching for task information related to the user U using text extracted by OCR processing as a search condition and selecting a task for efficiently associating an attached document based on the search result will be described.

  The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that a paper document is scanned before selecting a task to be associated from the task list display, text is extracted from the scanned image data by OCR processing, and the extracted text is used as a search condition. In addition, the tasks related to the user U are narrowed down to the task information that is strongly related (highly related) to the information on the paper medium (the contents of the paper document), and the search result is displayed as a task list. For example, when a task ID is previously embedded in a paper document by barcode, copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing, etc., a method of recognizing the task ID and displaying a specific task specified by the task ID may be considered.

  Now, the present embodiment will be described below, but the same reference numerals are used for points common to the first embodiment (system configuration (FIG. 1), hardware configuration (FIG. 2), etc.). The description will be omitted, and the content related to the task search function, which is a feature point of the present embodiment, will be mainly described.

<System operation example>
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an operation example in which the paper document 31 is registered and referred to as task related information in the workflow management system 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 17, the operations until registering and referencing the paper document 31 as related information (handled as related information) are mainly performed by the following six procedures.
(1) Relevant information input function execution instruction reception (2) User authentication request (3) Task selection / document reading (4) Task list provision (5) Attached document transmission / attachment of corresponding task (6) Task access When it is desired to register the paper document 31 as the task related information in the workflow, the MFP MFP receives an instruction to execute the related information input function from the user U via the panel display unit 302 (procedure (1)).

  Next, the MFP MFP that has received the instruction displays a panel display as shown by a broken line in FIG. 5 in order to determine whether the instructed user U is the workflow management system 100 or a user who can use the MFP MFP. Using the software keyboard of the unit 302, the user U is requested to input a login password, and user authentication is requested by transmitting the user ID and the input password to the management server SV (procedure (2)). At this time, the user ID is input by using a software keyboard displayed on the panel display unit 302 like a login password, or by reading from an IC card in which identification information for identifying a user carried by the user U is stored. MFP MFP can be acquired.

  When the MFP MFP receives the authentication result of the user U from the management server SV and is an authorized user, the MFP MFP displays a scan parameter setting screen of the scanner 305 as shown in a broken line in FIG. 302 is displayed. Thereafter, the paper document 31 set by the scanner 305 is scanned according to the scan parameter setting of the user U. (Procedure (3)). At this time, text is extracted using the OCR engine 303 based on the scanned image data.

  After completing the scan, the MFP MFP displays a display screen for instructing the user U to perform the next procedure as shown in FIG. Here, the procedure that can be instructed by the user U is (4-1) DB search based on the search condition and related task information request, (4-2) Scan the next paper document 31, (4-3) Scan This is image data deletion. Returning to FIG. 4, when the user U touches the software key shown in the broken line in FIG. 8, assuming that the procedure (4-1) is instructed, the MFP MFP performs OCR processing on the scanned image data, Using the extracted text as a search condition, the management server SV is requested for task information registered in the workflow related to the user U. As a result, the management server SV searches the task information of the user U for tasks that are highly relevant to the contents of the paper manuscript 31, and provides the search results to the MFP as a task list (procedures). (4)).

The MFP MFP displays the acquired task list on the panel display unit 302 as shown in FIG. The user U can select a task for associating the scanned paper document 31 from the task information (displayed task information) shown in the broken line on the left in FIG. Further, the user U can register a new task in the workflow by touching the software key (new task creation key) shown in the broken line on the right side of FIG. Can be selected as an associated task. Although FIG. 6 shows an example in which the task list information is displayed in a flat list, it may be displayed in a hierarchical list format indicating the hierarchical structure of tasks.
Returning to FIG. 4, after the task to be associated is selected, the MFP MFP creates the attached document 32 based on the scanned image data using the text extracted by the OCR process as the document title, and sends the attached document 32 to the management server SV. Send. As a result, the management server SV attaches the received attached document 32 to the corresponding task (procedure (5)).

  As a result, the user U can browse the created attached document 32 by the task related information display function as shown in FIG. 9 using the browser 201 provided in the user terminal PC (procedure (6)). FIG. 9 shows an example in which an attached document 32 in which the text “Technology Survey” extracted by the OCR process is the document title is displayed. FIG. 10 shows an example in which the related document search function of the workflow management system is found from the document DB 114 as a document related to another task based on the document title of the attached document 32 and the search result is displayed. It is shown. When the attached document 32 in the broken line in FIG. 10 is clicked, a browsable application (in the case of PDF format, Acrobat Reader (registered trademark)) determined from the data format (for example, “PDF: Portable Document Format”). It is also shown that the contents of the attached document 32 can be easily browsed.

  As described above, in the present invention, out of the task information related to the user U, the information on the paper medium (the contents of the paper original 31) is narrowed down to the task information highly relevant to the search condition, and the task associated with the paper original 31 is selected. Can be done efficiently.

<About processing of related information input control unit 301>
Next, specific processing of the operation example described with reference to FIG. 17 will be described with reference to flowcharts of FIGS. 18 and 19 and a sequence diagram of FIG.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the related information input control unit 301 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The related information input control unit 301 performs login processing by the login function unit 51 (S601), requests the panel display unit 302 to display the scan parameter setting screen of the scanner (S602), and waits until the scan parameter is set (S602). S603). When the scan parameters are set (when S603 is YES), the scanner control unit 304 is requested to scan the paper document 31 according to the set scan parameters (S604), and the scan is completed (scanned image data is acquired). (S605). When the scanning is completed (YES in S605), the OCR engine 303 is requested to perform OCR processing on the scanned image data (S606).

  Next, a task list acquisition process is performed by the task list acquisition function unit 52 (S607), the acquired task information is displayed on the panel display unit 302, and a task for associating an attached document (either a new task or an existing task) is displayed. Wait until it is selected (S608). When a task is selected (S608: YES), it is determined whether a new task is selected (S609). If a new task is selected (S609: YES) In this case, the text extracted by the OCR processing requested in S606 is used as a candidate value for the new task name, the display of the new task name setting screen is requested to the panel display unit 302 (S610), and the task name is waited until determined. (S611). When the task name of the new task is determined (when S611 is YES), a new task creation process is performed by the task creation function unit 53 (S612). In addition, in the determination process for creating a new task performed in S609, if a new task is not selected (S609 is NO), the processes in S610 to S612 are not performed.

  Finally, the attached document creation function unit 54 creates the attached document 32 (S613). The process ends.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the task list acquisition function unit 52 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The task list acquisition function unit 52 provides the management server to provide task information narrowed down to tasks highly relevant to the contents of the paper manuscript 31 among the task information related to the user U using the text extracted by the OCR process as a search condition. Requests to the SV (S701), and waits until the task information provided from the management server SV is obtained (S702). The panel display unit 302 is requested to display the task information acquired from the management server SV as a task list (S703).

  FIG. 20 shows a processing example of the workflow management system 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention (when an attached document that is scanned before selecting a task and created based on the scanned image data is registered in association with an existing task). FIG.

  The MFP MFP of the workflow management system 100 uses the login function unit 51 included in the related information input control unit 301 based on the login information (user ID and login password) of the user U input from the panel display unit 302. Login information is transmitted to the management server SV and user authentication is requested (3-1 to 3-2).

  The management server SV accesses the user DB 119 by the search engine 105 included in the workflow engine unit 104, performs user authentication, and returns an authentication result to the MFP FP (3-3 to 3-5).

  The MFP MFP displays the scan parameter setting screen on the panel display unit 302 by the related information input control unit 301, and after the parameters are set, requests the scanner control unit 304 to execute scanning according to the set parameters. (3-6 to 3-8).

  The MFP MFP scans the paper document 31 with the scanner 305, and the related information input control unit 301 acquires scanned image data (3-9 to 3-10).

  The MFP MFP performs OCR processing on the acquired scanned image data using the OCR engine 303, and the related information input control unit 301 acquires the extracted text (3-11-1 to 12-12).

  The MFP MFP requests the management server SV to provide task information related to the user U by using the task list acquisition function unit 52 of the related information input control unit 301 using the text extracted by the OCR process as a search condition (3 -13).

  The management server SV uses the search engine 105 of the workflow engine 104 to access the task instance DB 116, and uses the acquired text as a search condition, among tasks related to the user U, a task highly relevant to the contents of the paper manuscript 31. The search result is provided to the MFP MFP (3-14 to 3-15).

  The MFP MFP displays a list of the acquired task information on the panel display unit 302 by the related information input control unit 301 and waits for selection of a task to be associated with the paper document 31 (3-16 to 3-17). After the existing task is selected from the displayed task list, when the attached document creation function unit 54 of the related information input control unit 301 can extract the text from the scanned image data by the OCR process, the extracted text is the document title. The attached document 32 is created and the text and the attached document 32 are transmitted to the management server SV, thereby requesting registration of the attached document 32 and association with the corresponding task (3-18).

  The management server SV accesses the document DB by the task control unit 106 of the workflow engine 104, registers the acquired attached document 32, and based on the document ID that is identification information of the registered document issued at the time of registration. The related information management unit 120 associates the registered attached document 32 with the selected task, and registers the information in the related information DB 113 (3-19 to 3-21).

  FIG. 21 is a processing example of the workflow management system 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention (when an attached document that is scanned before task selection and created based on scanned image data is associated with a new task and registered). FIG.

  The MFP MFP of the workflow management system 100 uses the login function unit 51 included in the related information input control unit 301 based on the login information (user ID and login password) of the user U input from the panel display unit 302. Login information is transmitted to the management server SV and user authentication is requested (4-1 to 4-2).

  The management server SV accesses the user DB 119 by the search engine 105 included in the workflow engine unit 104, performs user authentication, and returns an authentication result to the MFP FP (4-3 to 4-5).

  The MFP MFP displays the scan parameter setting screen on the panel display unit 302 by the related information input control unit 301, and after the parameters are set, requests the scanner control unit 304 to execute scanning according to the set parameters. (4-6 to 4-8).

  The MFP MFP scans the paper document 31 with the scanner 305, and the related information input control unit 301 acquires scanned image data (4-9 to 4-10).

  The MFP MFP performs OCR processing on the acquired scanned image data by the OCR engine 303, and the related information input control unit 301 acquires the extracted text (4-11 to 4-12).

  The MFP MFP requests the management server SV to provide task information related to the user U by using the task list acquisition function unit 52 of the related information input control unit 301 using the text extracted by the OCR process as a search condition (4). -13).

  The management server SV uses the search engine 105 of the workflow engine 104 to access the task instance DB 116, and uses the acquired text as a search condition, among tasks related to the user U, a task highly relevant to the contents of the paper manuscript 31. The search result is provided to the MFP MFP (4-14 to 4-15).

  The multifunction peripheral MFP displays a list of the acquired task information on the panel display unit 302 by the related information input control unit 301 and waits for selection of a task to be associated with the paper document 31 (4-16 to 4-17). After a new task is selected from the displayed task list, the task name setting screen is displayed on the panel display unit 302 using the text extracted by the OCR process as a candidate value for the new task name, as shown in the broken line in FIG. After the display and the task name are set, the task creation function unit 53 of the related information input control unit 301 requests the management server SV to create a new task (4-18 to 4-20).

  The management server SV uses the task generation unit 107 of the task control unit 106 of the workflow engine 104 to access the task instance DB 116 to create a task instance of a new task, issue a task ID that is task identification information, and The task ID issued to the MFP is returned (4-21 to 4-23).

  When the attached document creation function unit 54 of the related information input control unit 301 can extract text from the scanned image data by the OCR process, the MFP MFP creates the attached document 32 using the extracted text as the document title. The attached document 32 is transmitted to the management server SV to request registration of the attached document 32 and association with the corresponding task (4-24).

  The management server SV accesses the document DB by the task control unit 106 of the workflow engine 104, registers the acquired attached document 32, and based on the document ID that is identification information of the registered document issued at the time of registration. The related information management unit 120 associates the registered attached document 32 with the selected task and registers the information in the related information DB 113 (4-25 to 4-27).

<Modification of system configuration>
In the first and second embodiments described so far, the components of the workflow management system 100 are the management server SV, the user terminal PC, and the MFP MFP.

  Therefore, FIG. 22 shows a main functional configuration example of the workflow management system 100 when the multifunction peripheral MFP is the management server SV as a modification.

  The related document input control unit 301 possessed by the MFP is composed of a login function unit 51 and a task list acquisition function unit 52, and the task creation function unit 53 is connected to the workflow engine 104 by the workflow management function in the MFP. The task generation unit 107 of the task control unit 106 and the attached document creation function unit 54 are caused to function by the related information management unit 120 included in the workflow engine 104, so that the same effects as the first and second embodiments are achieved. It becomes the structure which plays.

  FIG. 23 shows a main functional configuration example of the workflow management system 100 when a scanner is connected to the user terminal PC as a modification.

  The management server SV includes a related document input control unit 301. The related document input control unit 301 includes a login function unit 51 and a task list acquisition function unit 52. The task creation function unit 53 includes a workflow engine 104. The task generation unit 107 of the task control unit 106 and the attached document creation function unit 54 are functioned by the related information management unit 120 of the workflow engine 104. In addition, a scanner 305 is connected to the user terminal PC via a data transmission path such as USB, and the scanner control unit 304 causes the scanner to function in the same manner as the scanner function (scanner 305 and scanner control unit 304) provided in the MFP. By this, it becomes the structure which show | plays the effect similar to 1st and 2nd embodiment. In the case of this configuration, the scanned scanned image data is transmitted to the management server SV via the browser 201, and is sent to the workflow engine 104 via the input / output control unit 103 included in the GUI providing unit 101 included in the management server SV. Is transmitted.

<Summary>
As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the workflow management system 100 first confirms the use permission of the user U by the login function unit 51 of the related information input control unit 301 included in the MFP. Then, the paper document 31 set by the user U permitted to use is scanned by the scanner 305, and the scanned image data is input to the workflow management system 100 by the scan control unit 304 (reading means).

  Next, a part or all of the text (contents of the paper manuscript 31) extracted by the OCR engine 303 provided in the MFP is managed by the task list acquisition function 52 of the related information input control unit 301 as a task search condition. Among the task information related to the user U from the server SV, the task information highly relevant to the contents of the paper document 31 is acquired (squeezed search result), and is associated with the scanned paper document 31 based on the acquired task information. A task is set (task setting means). At this time, a task to be associated can be newly created by the task creation function unit 53.

  Finally, the attached document creation function unit 54 of the related information input control unit 301 included in the MFP MFP creates the attached document 32 using a part or all of the text extracted by the OCR process as the document title, and sends it to the management server SV. Request registration (storage) of attached document (attached document creating means).

  As a result, in the workflow management system 100, the related information management unit 120 included in the workflow engine 104 of the management server SV registers (stores) information related to the association between the attached document 32 and the designated task together with the attached document 32 (attached). Document storage means).

  Therefore, since the information on the paper medium (contents of the paper original 31) and the task are appropriately associated and registered in the workflow, the information on the paper medium (contents of the paper original 31) can be handled as related information in a timely manner.

  Further, a task to be associated is determined based on the information on the paper medium (the contents of the paper document 31) (association task candidates are automatically selected), and the information on the paper medium (the contents of the paper document 31) is efficiently associated with the task. be able to.

  Finally, the function of the workflow management system 100 according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention is to program each processing procedure described in the first and second embodiments according to the operating environment (platform). This can be realized by executing a program coded in a language on a computer. Therefore, the program for executing the functions described in the first and second embodiments of the present invention can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

  In addition, the first and second embodiments have been described, but the present invention is not limited to the requirements shown here, such as combinations with other elements in the shapes mentioned in the above embodiments. Absent. With respect to these points, the present invention can be changed within a range that does not detract from the gist of the present invention, and can be appropriately determined according to the application form.

It is a figure which shows an example of the workflow management system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the management server and user terminal which concern on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the MFP MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the main function structures of the workflow management system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation example which registers and refers the paper original as the relevant information of a task in the workflow management system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a login screen in the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a task list screen in the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a scan parameter setting screen in the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a processing procedure selection screen after scanning in the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the task information browsing screen in the user terminal which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the related information browsing screen in the user terminal which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the main function structures of the workflow management system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process example of the related information input control part which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process example of the login function part which the related information input control part which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention has. It is a flowchart which shows the process example of the task list acquisition function part which the related information input control part which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention has. It is a flowchart which shows the process example of the task creation function part which the related information input control part which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention has. It is a flowchart which shows the process example of the attached document preparation function part which the related information input control part which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention has. It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of a process of the workflow management system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention (when an attached document is linked | related with an existing task, it registers, and the attached document after registration is referred). It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of a process of the workflow management system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention (when attaching a document in association with a new task). 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a new task name setting screen in the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows the operation example which registers and refers the paper manuscript as the relevant information of a task in the workflow management system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process example of the related information input control part which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process example of the task list acquisition function part which the related information input control part which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention has. It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of a process of the workflow management system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention (when an attached document is linked | related with an existing task, it registers, and the attached document after registration is referred). It is a sequence diagram which shows the example of a process of the workflow management system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention (when an attached document is registered in relation to a new task). It is a figure which shows an example of the main function structures of the workflow management system (when a management server is a multifunction machine) concerning the modification of the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the main function structures of the workflow management system (when a scanner is connected to a user terminal) which concerns on the modification of the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 Workflow management system 11 Control unit (CPU)
12 Main memory (ROM, RAM)
13 Auxiliary memory (HD)
14 Network I / F
15 External storage device I / F
16 External device I / F
17 Output device I / F
18 Input device I / F
19 Display (panel display)
20 Input unit (operation unit)
21 Printing section (plotter section)
22 Scanner section (original reading section)
31 Paper manuscript 32 Attached document 101 GUI providing unit 102 Rendering engine 103 Input / output control unit 104 Workflow engine 105 Search engine 106 Task control unit 107 Task creation unit 108 Task execution unit 109 Inference engine 110 Task model generation unit 111 Task tree holding unit 112 Workflow recording unit 113 related information DB
114 Document DB
115 task model DB
116 Task instance DB
117 Domain Concept DB
118 Work Record DB
119 User DB
120 Related Information Management Unit 201 Browser 301 Related Information Input Control Unit 302 Panel Display Unit 303 OCR Engine 304 Scanner Control Unit 305 Scanner 306 Printer Engine 51 Login Function Unit 52 Task List Acquisition Function Unit 53 Task Creation Function Unit 54 Attached Document Creation Function Unit
SV workflow management server (information processing device)
PC user terminal (information processing equipment)
MFP MFP (image forming device)
U user

Claims (20)

A workflow management system for managing a constructive workflow by a management server having a database,
Reading means for reading information on a paper medium and generating read image data;
Task setting means for setting a task associated with the paper medium information read by the reading means;
An attached document creating means for creating an attached document to be attached to the task set by the task setting means based on the read image data;
A workflow management system comprising: an attached document storage unit that stores the attached document in association with a task set by the task setting unit in the database. Task search means for searching for task information related to a user from the database;
Task search result acquisition means for acquiring a search result by the task search means;
When associating an existing task registered in the database with information on a paper medium,
The task setting means includes
2. The workflow management system according to claim 1, wherein a task selected based on a search result acquired by the task search result acquisition unit is set as a task associated with information on a paper medium read by the reading unit. A task creation means for creating a new task;
When associating a new task not registered in the database with information on a paper medium,
The task setting means includes
3. The workflow management system according to claim 1, wherein the task created by the task creating unit is set as a task associated with information on a paper medium read by the reading unit. OCR processing is performed on the read image data read from the reading means, text extraction means for extracting text from the read image data,
When text is extracted by the text extraction means,
The attached document creating means includes:
4. The workflow management system according to claim 1, wherein the document title of the attached document is created based on a part or all of the text extracted by the text extraction unit. When text is extracted by the text extraction means,
The task creation means includes
The task name candidate of the task created by the task creation means is determined based on a part or all of the text extracted by the text extraction means. The workflow management system described in 1. The task search means includes:
6. The workflow management system according to claim 1, wherein the database is searched using a part or all of the text extracted by the text extraction unit as a search condition.   The workflow management system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising authentication means for performing user use permission authentication. The management server
The workflow management system according to claim 1, wherein the workflow management system is an image forming apparatus including a storage device. An image forming apparatus connected to a workflow management system for managing a constructive workflow,
Reading means for reading information on a paper medium and generating read image data;
A task setting means for setting a task associated with the paper medium information read by the reading means based on a search result of task information related to the user searched by the management server;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an attached document creating unit that creates an attached document to be attached to a task set by the task setting unit based on the read image data. A management server connected to a workflow management system for managing constructive workflow,
With a database,
A task creation means for creating a new task;
Task search means for searching for task information related to a user from the database;
Task search result providing means for providing a search result by the task search means;
A task set based on the task information provided by the task search result providing means in the image forming apparatus for the attached document created based on the read image data obtained by the image forming apparatus reading and generating the information on the paper medium. And an attached document storage means for storing the associated document in the database. The task search means includes:
The management server according to claim 10, wherein the database is searched using a part or all of the text extracted by the text extraction unit as a search condition.   The management server according to claim 10, further comprising an authentication unit that performs user use permission authentication. The task setting means includes
When associating existing tasks registered in the database of the management server with information on paper media,
The task selected based on a search result of task information related to a user acquired from the management server is set as a task associated with information on a paper medium read by the reading unit. Image forming apparatus. The task setting means includes
When associating a new task that is not registered in the database of the management server with information on a paper medium,
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a new task created by the management server is set as a task associated with information on a paper medium read by the reading unit. OCR processing is performed on the read image data read from the reading means, text extraction means for extracting text from the read image data,
The attached document creating means includes:
When text is extracted by the text extraction means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the document title of the attached document is created based on a part or all of the text extracted by the text extraction unit. The task creation means includes
When text is extracted by the text extraction means,
The task name candidate of the task created by the task creation means is determined based on a part or all of the text extracted by the text extraction means. The image forming apparatus according to one item. A workflow management method in an image forming apparatus connected to a workflow management system for managing a constructive workflow,
A reading procedure for reading information on a paper medium and generating read image data;
A task setting procedure for setting a task associated with the paper medium information read in the reading procedure based on a search result of task information related to the user searched by the management server;
A workflow management method comprising: an attached document creation procedure for creating an attached document to be attached to a task set by the task setting procedure based on the read image data. A workflow management method in a management server connected to a workflow management system for managing a constructive workflow,
With a database,
Task creation procedure to create a new task,
A task search procedure for searching task information related to a user from the database;
A task search result providing procedure for providing a search result according to the task search procedure;
A task set based on the task information provided by the task search result providing procedure in the image forming apparatus with the attached document created based on the read image data read and generated by the image forming apparatus reading the information on the paper medium. An attached document storing procedure for storing the attached document in association with the database. A workflow management program in an image forming apparatus connected to a workflow management system for managing a constructive workflow,
On the computer,
Reading means for reading information on a paper medium and generating read image data;
A task setting means for setting a task associated with the paper medium information read by the reading means based on a search result of task information related to the user searched by the management server;
A workflow management program for causing an attached document creating means for creating an attached document to be attached to a task set by the task setting means based on the read image data. A workflow management program in a management server connected to a workflow management system for managing a constructive workflow,
On the computer,
With a database,
A task creation means for creating a new task;
Task search means for searching for task information related to a user from the database;
Task search result providing means for providing a search result by the task search means;
A task set based on the task information provided by the task search result providing means in the image forming apparatus for the attached document created based on the read image data obtained by the image forming apparatus reading and generating the information on the paper medium. A workflow management program for causing an attached document storage means to be stored in the database in association with the database.

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